The Piazza Tales

The Piazza Tales is a collection of six short stories written by Herman Melville and originally published in 1856.

Includes three of the most notable stories from Melville's work: Bartleby, Benito Cereno and The Encantadas. The criticism of his time was positive, however that did not translate into a good sales volume that would solve Melville's economic problems.

The following is the list of the six short stories included in the book:

• The Piazza
• Bartleby
• Benito Cereno
• The Lightning-Rod Man
• The Encantadas
• The Bell-Tower

“With fairest flowers,
Whilst summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele—”
When I removed into the country, it was to occupy an old-fashioned farm-house, which had no piazza—a deficiency the more regretted, because not only did I like piazzas, as somehow combining the coziness of in-doors with the freedom of out-doors, and it is so pleasant to inspect your thermometer there, but the country round about was such a picture, that in berry time no boy climbs hill or crosses vale without coming upon easels planted in every nook, and sun-burnt painters painting there. A very paradise of painters. The circle of the stars cut by the circle of the mountains. At least, so looks it from the house; though, once upon the mountains, no circle of them can you see. Had the site been chosen five rods off, this charmed ring would not have been.